EU a Step Closer to Technology Institute

Luxembourg/Brussels, 25 June

The EU's Competitiveness Council did not discuss on Monday sources for the financing of the European Institute of Technology (EIT) although it had agreed that the issue should be resolved until June, however the ministers reached compromises on some other issues, according to diplomatic sources.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Jure Zupan said that the budget for the institute was already agreed at EUR 308.7m. This is the minimum amount in Slovenia's opinion.
The ministers agreed that the institute would be built in two phases and two to three Knowledge and Innovation Communities would be selected first.
The areas of work of these communities are yet not been determined, however renewable energy sources and climate change have been mentioned as possibilities.
Zupan explained that in Slovenia there was already some idea of which institutions could participate in the EIT. In his opinion energy and climate change could cover two thirds of Slovenian science. Zupan also believes that those who are not working in these areas should be involved and redirect to priority areas.
The ministers also agreed on the language regime in EIT. According to the sources, all official documents and publications will be translated to all EU official languages.
This is a sufficient compromise for Slovenia. Zupan explained that when it comes to language, multiliguality and efficiency should both be considered.
Zupan also said that the EIT was not expected to start working before 2009, while European Commissioner of Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism Jan Figel said that the location of the institute's administrative headquarters has still not been agreed.
Hungary, Poland and Austria are candidates to host the headquarters of the EIT.

EU a Step Closer to Technology Institute

More articles from this issue:

Archive